Adjustable frame for building sewers



(No Model.) 2 sheets sheet 1.

G.M. GRAHAM. ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR BUILDING SEWERS, &c.

No. 402,665. Patented May 7, 1889 WITNESSES.

7 (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. l

G M. GRAH ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR BUI NG SEWERS, &c.

No. 402,665. Patented May 7, 1889.

Fig. 5

N. PETERS. Pl'mbuthvgnpher, WhhingQon. DC.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. GRAHAM, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

ADJUSTABLE FRAME FOR BUILDING SEWERS, 8C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,665, dated May 7, 1889.

Application filed October 8, 1888- Serial No. 287,580. (No model.)

T0 (0% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. GRAHAM, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Frame-l/Vorks or Patterns for Building Sewers, Vaults, and other Similar Constructions of Concrete and other Suitable Material; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, true, and exact description thereof.

The invention consists of a removable metallic frame-work or pattern for forming the profile of the structure to be built, over or around which the concrete material, while in plastic state, is placed or cast for forming the structure to be built.

The object of my invention is to facilitate the erection and removal of said frame-work, and to so unite the parts of the same that they may be separated with ease and without the damaging consequences attendent upon frame-works as heretofore employed.

That the invention may be 'fully understood, reference will be had to the annexed specification and the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of the frame-work or pattern and the conduit formed thereby on line X X, Fig. 4. Fig. 2 is a partial horizontal section of Fig. l. on line X X, Fig. 4. Fig. 3 is also a partial horizontal section of Fig. 1 on line X X, Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a cross-section of Fig. 1 on line Z Z. Fig. 5 represents a cross-section of a finished conduit having the frame removed. Fig. 6 represents the upper part of amodified form for a conduit.

It is well known by those skilled in the art of building with concrete material that portions are finished at a time and the same operations repeated as often as required in the construction of sewers, vaults, conduits, (to. For each of these portions or sections a pattern or frame-work has to be erected, by which the form of the structure is determined for construction. After the concrete material is deposited on the pattern in quantity sufficient to form a wall of the desired thickness around the pattern and the material becomes solidified, then this temporary frame-work or pattern is to be removed and again erected for the succeeding section. Heretofore for this purpose wooden frames were employed,

which, if at all, allowed only a very limited repetition of application, and requiring a covering of some fabric over the frame when smoothness of the structure wasessential.

By the application of my invention no eX- tra means are needed to insure an even and smooth surface, nor is the use of said improved pattern limited. The labor of erecting and removing the frames above referred to is also largely reduced. They being constructed of metal,will not expand and contract, as is the case-with wood frames. The latter consequently injures the structure formed upon it, and it is very difficultto remove the fsames when so expanded by dampness.

The peculiar construction of the parts constituting said frame or pattern and the manner in which they are adjusted in relation to each other is as follows:

In Fig. 1 is represented the interior of one-half of said frame-work, which consists of a series of side and arch plates and one crown-plate, A, for the roof or arch. The plates B B are duplicates and used in joint relation with the plates A O D, on which to build the side walls and arch, as indicated at A B C D, Fig. 4. At the sides are arranged the side plates, 0 D, to which are loosely hinged the adjustable brace-rods E E, whereas the corresponding opposite plates are provided with perforated lugs F F, for engagement of the hooks of said rods therein for the purpose of retaining the side plates, D D and C O, in position, each of which consists of a rectangular faceplate with flanges a b and 0 cl at the long sides thereof, which are for the purpose of placing the plates in upright position and one upon another, asshown in Fig. 4, and also to prevent the, concrete while in plastic state from leaking through the joints of the plates. The bottom flange, d, of the plates D D projects inward at right angles to the face-plates thereof, whereas the flange c is sloping inwardly, as seen in 4. The flange b of the plates 0 is laid upon the flange 0 and forms with its face-plate the supplementary angle for establishing a straight line of the faces of the side plates, O D and O D. The rods E E, as above stated, retain the plates in position when hooked through the lugs F F. The plates B B form a part of the arch G of the frame-work, which plates are joined with the plates C C by means of the inclined flanges e and a, which are parts of the plates B B and C 0, respectively. The flanges e of the plates B are at intervals provided with sockets e at the base of the plates B B, in which to insert or connect the ends of the cross-bars II, as seen in Figs. 1, 3, and A. The cross-bars II are preferably made of T form, as seen in Fig. 1, and are provided with a perforated lug, f, at the upper central part thereof, into which engage the hooks of the brace-rod I. Oonjointly said bar II and the rods I serve as means for support of the'archplates '13 B, as seen in Fig. A, the rod I being hinged to the upper edge of the plates B, which plates at that edge are rabbeted to receive the crown-plate A. Said crown-plate A and plates B B are curved according to the form of the arch desired for the structure. They are preferably made circular, but can be equally as well adapted for parabolic, elliptical, or even polygonous forms.

The brace-rods I, as shown in the drawings, have a jointed connection with the plates B by means of the lugs g, which are attached to the back of said plates, as seen in Figs. 1 and 4, whereas the rods E E have a loose connection with the eye 71. and are provided with a turn-buckle, J, having right and left hand threads to connect the sections of said rods, as seen at Fig. 2, by which the side plates, 0 D, may be adjusted to various sized cons duits.

The manner of applying this frame-work in the course of constructing sewers, conduits, &C., is as follows: First, the ground-floor is laid according to the size of the structure. After this being hardened, then the plates 1) D are set in place directly upon the fioorand the rods E are hooked into their corresponding lugs F. On the plates D D the plates C O are set and secured in a relative position with the plates D D by means of rods E, connected with the plates in the same way as the lower rods, E. The plates B B and bars II are mounted in their successive order-that is, the bars H are held ready for engagement in the notches e as soon as the plates B are set upon the plates C. After this the hooks of the rod I are inserted into the lug f and the crown-plate A laid between the rabbets or shoulders l of the arch-plates B, which finishes the erection of the frame-work for the construction of a conduit or other purpose. Plastic cement, concrete, or other suitable ma terial may now be employed. The plastic material is laid 011 and over the frame in quantity or thickness more or less, as the na ture of the structure may require, and after the cement or concrete is sufficiently dry the frame-work may be readily taken down by first unhookin g the rods E E. The side plates, 0 D, can then be drawn inwardly from the side walls. The inclination of the flanges a e and c 1') tends to any easy removal of the side plates as soon as the rods are released from the lugs FF. The rods I on being disconnected from the lugs f admit of the cross bars H, arch, and crown-plates B A being then taken down in the order of the parts II B A and again erected, as before described, for further extensions or other constructions.

hen wood frames are used, much delay, and injury to the superstructure, is caused by the warping, swelling, and shrinking of the wood, as such frames tend to produce cracks, seams, and a rough surface to the cement vault.

Figs. 5 and 6 represent oross-seotions of conduits cleared of the frame-work used in building the same. The said conduits are formed with semicircular arch and semi-octagonal roof,both forms of which can be made with sectional patterns or framework jointed together substantially as described, the roofplates being formed according to the shape required for the roof or top of the conduit.

\Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A metallic frame-work for building sewers, conduits, &o., consisting of a series of plates bearing one upon another by inwardly turn ed and inclined flanges of the lower and middle plates, hinged and hooked cross-rods for. spreading said plates, and cross-bars sup ported by the middle plates for suspending the upper and crown plates by means of rods hooked in lugs of said bars, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a means for building sewers of concrete material, the combination of the plates D I), C C, B B, and A, set successively one upon the others, having non-parallel joints for the side or middle plates, and cross-bars for supporting the upper plates, all united by means of rods, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

The cross-bars II and sockets e at the base of the plates B B, in which to attach the terminals of the cross-bars, in combination with rods E E, having threaded coupling .I, arranged in connection with the plates O U and I) D, constructed substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix. my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. GRAHAM. lVitnesses:

W. H. BURRIDGE, B. F. EIBLER. 

